Chapter 171: Chapter 138: Meng Guang, the Warlord (2)

In the past three years, Meng Guang has sent memorials almost every few months, indicating the current construction status of the North Sea Navy.

And naturally, Zheng Yi has also dispatched the Embroidered Uniform Guard and eunuchs to the North Sea Army for military supervision. Unfortunately, the fleet often went out to sea for months at a time, resulting in very limited intelligence on the North Sea Navy.

Most of these memorials were requests for assistance or for acquiring cannons and other hot weapons.

As for Meng Guang’s memorials, Zheng Yi certainly did not refuse, almost always granting his requests.

“How is the North Sea Navy currently?”

“Entirely thanks to Your Majesty’s divine merit.”

Meng Guang said, “Currently, our North Sea Navy has one hundred thousand sailors, over three hundred thousand logistics personnel, thirty-eight main warships, over twelve hundred warships, occupying three islands, and shaking the East Sea!”

“Especially the Red Coat Cannons supported by Your Majesty have made an indelible contribution to the construction of the North Sea Navy!”

“The Red Coat Cannons are indeed strong, but you deserve a great deal of credit for establishing the North Sea Navy to its current state.”

“I shall not disappoint any minister who has contributed!”

Zheng Yi said, “I am quite interested in your experiences over the past three years, feel free to elaborate.”

“Yes!”

Meng Guang respectfully said, “Three years ago, after bidding farewell to Your Majesty, I led my troops and two hundred artillerymen to Binzhou.”

“When passing through Jizhou, I discussed with my aides and quickly made another decision…”

Under Meng Guang’s narration, Zheng Yi quickly learned most of what Meng Guang had experienced over the past three years.

It turns out that after leaving the Capital City, Meng Guang did not head directly to Binzhou, but went to Qingzhou!

Qingzhou is coastal, with many lakes and water sources within its borders.

Meng Guang gathered the brothers he left behind when he was a water bandit and began to attack the water bandits within Jizhou!

His goal was to first gather the Qingzhou water bandits.

This not only solved the bandit problem in Qingzhou but also strengthened his own power, laying the foundation for the construction of the North Sea Navy, killing three birds with one stone!

He only had over three thousand men under his command, but there were two hundred artillerymen, a large number of flintlock guns, Thunderbolts, grenades, and so on, besides the Red Coat Cannons.

Meng Guang used the artillery as the vanguard and began to conquer the water bandits of Jizhou.

In just half a year, fifteen groups of water bandits in Jizhou had been mostly wiped out by him.

The remaining bandits either brought all their belongings to join Meng Guang or abandoned their bases and fled in different directions.

After achieving this victory, Zheng Yi dispatched another three thousand new army soldiers to be commanded by Meng Guang.

The strongest group among the bandits called themselves Liang Xingshan’s water bandits, with one hundred and eight leaders and over ten thousand troops under them.

Among these one hundred and eight leaders, the lowest Martial Arts Cultivation was as strong as the Third-grade Realm.

The strongest three were even Grandmaster Realm Martial Artists.

But even so, they were repeatedly defeated by Meng Guang through the use of firearms and military formations.

In the end, Meng Guang even requested a Holy Decree from the Imperial Court to recruit the majority of Liang Xingshan’s water bandits.

After wiping out the Jizhou water bandits, his troops swelled to over thirty thousand men in one go!

After this, he stayed in the water tradelands of Jizhou, training the navy using these water bandits as a foundation.

At the same time, he weeded out those who committed crimes in the army or those who did not comply with military law, quickly training these water bandits into a navy.

While training the navy, he also relied on the silver and new recruits provided by Zheng Yi to recruit refugees, continuously strengthening his forces.

In the seventh month’s end of the year of Eternal Valor.

The navy under Meng Guang’s command reached over fifty thousand men!

Thereafter, he led these fifty thousand sailors, advancing by both land and sea, towards Binzhou.

On land, the troops wiped out rebels along the way, recruited refugees, and continued to bolster their strength.

At sea, Meng Guang personally led the way, setting his sights on the pirates of the East Sea!

These pirates were mostly spontaneously organized by coastal residents.

In times of leisure, they became pirates, and when busy, they were fishermen.

Among them, four pirate forces were the most powerful, known as the four Pirate Kings.

East Sea Cyan Hidden King!

Storm Sea Storm King!

Chaos Sea Black Dragon King!

Xinghai King of Stars!

These four Pirate Kings occupied many islands and territories along the coast of Great Yu, looting populations and plundering merchant ships; they would even occasionally attack some small island nations.

To the coastal residents, these Pirate Kings were indeed a serious threat.

And the Cyan Hidden King, located within the East Sea of Great Yu, was Meng Guang’s greatest opponent.

To defeat the Cyan Hidden King, he once again requested aid from the Imperial Court.

At that time, after some consideration, Zheng Yi directly allocated three hundred Red Coat Cannons, escorted by three thousand new army soldiers, to support Meng Guang.

With these cannons, Meng Guang consecutively defeated seven pirate groups under the Cyan Hidden King, gaining countless spoils and capturing several small islands.

The Cyan Hidden King was infuriated, rallied all his pirates, numbering over a hundred thousand, and even joined with the Storm King’s pirate group from Storm Sea to launch a surprise attack on Meng Guang’s navy.

This battle… was once again won by Meng Guang!

The three hundred Red Coat Cannons fired, instantly destroying the Cyan Hidden King’s flagship and several ships.

Three days later, the Cyan Hidden King fled in embarrassment, and Meng Guang pursued them for three hundred nautical miles!

From then on, the East Sea completely belonged to Meng Guang’s North Sea Navy.

And the Cyan Hidden King had to abandon most of his deployments and flee in panic.

Thereafter, Meng Guang began to seize all the assets left behind by the Cyan Hidden King, rapidly increasing his power.

Even the neighboring Storm Sea Storm King did not refrain from sending envoys to make friendly ties.

At this time, Zheng Yi issued a Holy Decree summoning Meng Guang back to the Capital City.

Upon receiving Zheng Yi’s order, Meng Guang immediately left part of the navy to garrison the base and led his troops from the mouth of the Canglong River to the river, heading towards the Capital City.

For over an hour, Meng Guang spoke passionately and animatedly, recounting his trials and tribulations over the past three years.

Of course, what he praised most was Zheng Yi’s support and care.

It was as if… everything he achieved was obtained under the direction of Zheng Yi.

The greatest credit belonged to Your Majesty.

And he, Meng Guang, was merely a pawn who had luckily come this far under Zheng Yi’s instruction.

“Hahaha…”

Zheng Yi was also amused by Meng Guang’s words and laughed heartily, this fellow, seemingly honest and loyal, but occasionally revealing a momentum and tone, indeed hinted at his extraordinary nature.

Zheng Yi vaguely saw through the things Meng Guang was hiding.

A hero.

A hero amidst chaos, a capable minister in prosperous times!

Like that King Wei from historical records of the past life!

However, the King Wei at the time lacked a wise ruler’s control and ultimately could only become a hero in chaotic times.

But for Great Yu, with him around, no matter how ambitious Meng Guang was, he could only obediently stay in line and work for him!

Zheng Yi said, “Meng Guang, you are quite good!”

“I said before, as long as you do not betray me, I will trust you, there’s no need for us to just go through the motions.”

“Your Majesty! I am sincere, with absolutely no double heart!”

Zheng Yi smiled and said, “Well, then, this time I have called you back to the Capital to have you eliminate the Rebel Kings in other state counties.”

“What… what position do you want?”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep